Just the same, considerable damage is done when a quarterback talks about cheap shots and an opposing coach says you play “dirty” football. Once the label is attached, it’s hard to dislodge it.

While Jeff Fisher and his players might shrug this off, the image is lodged in the minds of NFL officials. And in a borderline call, it could mean the difference between a penalty flag and no penalty at all.

And when defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil flips off the officials, as he did during the second quarter of the Titans-Broncos game, it exacerbates the problem. The refs get the bird but the Titans get the penalty.